Alcoholic Experience

[Hangingover]

Hi everyone,

I've name changed to write this post but I promise I'm not a journalist or an author or anything...I'm just really ashamed to be writing this so I wanted to separate it from my other posts.

Can anyone who is alcoholic and has managed to stop drinking help me with some of the below. Because frankly I feel like I'm standing at the foot of a fucking mountain and I have no idea where to even begin.

• did you tell friends and family you were alcoholic when you stopped or did you fudge it e.g. say you've given up for health reasons/can't handle hangovers anymore etc.

• did anyone close to you not believe you/make excuses for your drinking?

• what are AA meetings like? Do they let you write things down and read then out or do they fire questions at you? Is that thing where the make you sit in the middle of a circle and make you cry just something from telly?

• if you feel comfortable sharing it, what was your "rock bottom" moment?

• how many gos did it take for you to give up and what advice would you give to someone starting? Did you do it straight away or cut down?

• do the cravings ever go away? Is it like smoking cravings where they flare up and down or is it constantly low-level?

Thanks in advance. Again I promise I'm not fishing for any disingenuous reason, I genuinely want to know these things for my own journey but it's making me cry just writing down the questions let alone sharing anything about myself atm. The one thing I will say is that I have it on fairly good (as in medical) authority that I'm not drinking sufficient amounts to be at risk of physical withdrawal symptoms of that help on the advice bit on the last question. Also I have no DC and no plans for any. I have a good DP.

And please be gentle if you can because I am feeling really ashamed of myself rn Xx

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad it's going so well. We're the first few days rough or did you just chug on through? I wasn't expecting it but I feel very kind of fragile and ill today.

The first day is always hard. Have an early night and remember that every day is a new day and it will only get easier. You can do this :)

Last year on my AA birthday I posted this thread: I'm 30 years sober today. Ask me anything. Several people seemed to find it helpful. Rather than type it all out again I suggest you take a look at the thread, as it answers a lot of your questions.

Thank you I'll have a look now x

You are doing so well! How are you feeling now? xx

There's a lot of sugar in alcohol. You don't want to be fighting sugar withdrawal at the same time. Treat yourself to something sweet; you can be healthy once you've sorted out alcohol.
You've got this!

Super stuff prawn thank you. Really helpful. I'm going to look for a Skype aa meeting for when I've got a bit more energy.

Thanks for checking in soberforsummer I feel wretched by I've done some reading and it seems fairly common when you first stop. I had manic energy this morning and now I feel like I've been hit by a car.

I seem to have missed how much you were drinking each day, but if you are alcohol dependent, it is really not safe to go cold turkey, and you are far more likely to relapse. A gradual taper off would be better, or even a medical detox, dependent on how much you have been drinking. Please don't put yourself at risk of physical harm

Thanks Restlessinthenorth . Hopefully I'm ok I'm currently drinking less than when I was last under a drug and alcohol keyworker and she wasn't concerned about my stopping straight away at that time.

Good news. Just be aware of the kindling effect; something that can happen when you are making repeated attempts at stopping...effects of withdrawal can become more severe.

Sending love and strength to you.

Thanks that's good to know. I'm ashamed to say this is my first attempt to stop totally in 5 years

As others said you have to come to terms with the fact you cant drink again, not just cut down or whatever. It may be one day you may be able to drink sensibly again, but that wont be for years, probably never.

Once you've started, never question your decision to give up.

Its like exercise, you probably wont have a eureka moment and thats it (although I did) you will fuck up endlessly along the way, but keep working at it, every little thing you can try adds up. Allan Carr's book was probably the best for me, although it took a year or so after reading it.

AA can be a bit religious and sentimental. Loads and loads of other groups out there that arnt based on religion. Some are just casual meetups where you dont even really talk about your substance.

And no the cravings have gone for me. On the occasions since ive tried a sip (stupidly) ive got to maybe half a can and though 'this is fucking disgusting and making me feel sick/dizzy'.

Thanks, that's really useful. I'm hoping I won't relapse imminently now that I've made the decision, as the only two times I've tried I've managed to stop overnight and for a period of time... Basically I'm so scared of trying to quit and only making it a day or two and what that "means" that I never try unless things are really bad (like now). Does that make ANY sense??

I forgot to say, a lot of people recommend you dont drink non alcoholic booze. You wont unaquire the taste and realise it tastes like chemically poison because it is.

Tbh if it helps me get through the evenings at the moment it's the lesser of two evils but I take your point